Due to my airplane being down for a few annual squawks, and the fact that I have not really been current for a few months, I decided not to fly myself in. This being my website's first annual fly-in though, I could not miss it. Several people that go by the name of Mrs. Strata Rocketeer and jmtgt bet against me showing up, but ya know, when I have connections like I do, I find a way. This time it came in the form of a Southwest Airlines flight from Reno, and jmtgt retrieving me from Caldwell airport, the home of Maule Mods. We met at Johan's shop at 10:00am and I hopped into the cockpit with the ever-jovial Gun Trader and off we went to the mountains of central Idaho.
Thursday
It's rugged. I bet that bowl with the patches of snow had some great skiing this last winter...
Our first stop was to be Big Creek, so we overflew Johnson Creek and headed about 30 miles north to check in on the earlycomers for the 2006 Maule Pilot's Fly-In, and to check out the scene of a 182 crash that had occurred the day before.
Big Creek airport on downwind for the south approach.
A Cessna 180 landing at Big Creek.
Wreckage of a Cessna 182 in the trees near the departure end of the airstrip. Crash was non-fatal but you wouldn't know that from the looks of it.
The day was getting warmer and the winds were getting more and more unfavorable at Big Creek, so we decided to head back to Johnson Creek, at which time the Gun Trader treated me to a sphincter-puckering tailwind takeoff. Maybe it just seemed overly exciting at the time since it was my first takeoff in a tight canyon in such close proximity to some very big trees, and I had just taken photos of a wreck, which some say is bad juju.
Johnson Creek really is a great place. The airstrip is so long and wide that it seems difficult to imagine blowing a landing here, but it does happen.
This poor guy somehow suffered a propstrike a few days prior to our arrival, and left his bird behind while he took the engine and prop off for inspection or replacement.
By the time we landed at JC it was around 1:00pm and time to hang it up for the afternoon. The temps were in the high 80's to low 90's, and the afternoon winds blowing over the ridgetops make for a harrowing flight thru the canyons. Nothing to do but stand around and BS:
L to R: MauleManiac, MiniMauleManiac, M7Flyer, jmtgt.
Friday
The night before, MauleManiac arrived with the whole MauleManiac family in tow. They drove in from Idaho City with supplies, dogs, and the visiting MiniMauleManic (brother) from Wisconsin. They really are a great bunch of people and it was fun to meet them. M7Flyer flew his Maule M7 in all the way from Los Angeles with his mountain bike stuffed in the back (more on that later.) So with MauleManiac, M7Flyer, and jmtgt ready for some action, we made it a flight of three and departed at 6:45am for Dixie Town for breakfast, with a backup destination of Elk City.
The front line at JC...rather Maule-dominated.
Dixie Town airstrip... 5600 MSL and 3000 feet long.
Upon arrival to Dixie Town, a low and featureless voice announced over the CTAF: "Welcome to Dixie Town." That was the extent of our welcome. We walked into town only to find that the restaurant had recently burned down, so it was back to the airstrip for a departure to our backup, Elk City.
Climbout over Dixie Town. I could count the needles on the trees.
The airport at Elk City... it's got a bit of a curve to it.
The small town of Elk City is really nice. The airport is up on a hill, and has a nice curvy section at the approach end. jmtgt made a fun turning-landing on one main to straighten out for the straight section, which is fairly uphill and boxed in tightly by trees.
MauleManiac on rollout while M7Flyer and jmtgt watch from the sidelines.
We enjoyed a nice breakfast at Carol and Val's, the official makers of the world's largest pancakes. Word of warning: A single pancake dwarfs a 8.00x6 tire and the sausage patty resembles an Alaskan Bushwheels' tailwheel tire.
Flying around in mountains like these requires a certain amount of de-sensitization to terrain proximity. Flying a pattern and making a good approach often include flying with 50-100 feet of trees and rocks in order to skirt the canyons and get set up for final. Or, sometimes you just go flying with MauleManiac, who likes to look at rocks close up for the fun of it.
It was dubbed "Dong Rock".
Once again, our time was up for the day and we had to retire to the safety of underside of a Maule wing while temps and winds shot up. From our shady vantage point we evaluated approaches and landings like a good peanut gallery. Around that time, Mr and Mrs DEGJR arrived, and then this guy showed up:
N6EA, flying me to safety in his Franklin powered M4.
Saturday
Saturday morning, Mr. and Mrs. Strata Rocketeer arrived at JC from the Big Creek Maule fly-in. Doug and I launched for McCall in his M4 to pick up some burger supplies. While at McCall airport, we ran into SeaplanePilot who was giving his SuperCub on amphibs a bath. Nice to meet you Rob, perhaps you can attend next year's fly-in if you're not too busy teaching people how to fly that thing.
The gang of Maules once again ran a sortie into the backcountry on saturday morning, this time heading out to Warm Springs and Bruce Meadows. DEGJR accompanied with his C182 and lurker John in his '59 C172. I'll let the participating parties elaborate on stories generated at this one.
This is what I like to see....A beautiful old 170 out there. Photos: N6EA
The town of Yellow Pine is such a large part of visiting Johnson Creek. You can rent a van from the friendly caretakers at the airport and drive the few miles into town for ice, beer, or a chair and toothbrush in my case. jmtgt ejected mine during his finally loading in Reno, so I was chairless for the first day until I found a beauty of a folding one for $14.99 from the Yellow Pine general store. I think it went home with M7Flyer. I want that thing back someday, dude.
They like their vans in the bulging metro area of Yellow Pine.
It got hot, so I went for a swim and a cast in Johnson Creek, which is just on the threshold between refreshingly cool, and ball-shrivelling cold. I think I'm just a bad fly fisherman because I didn't get so much as a strike.
I could not ask for a more beautiful creek to not catch any fish in.
The rest of the afternoon was spent shade-chasing under various wings. I managed to gather almost everyone for a group photo:
L to R Top row: N6EA, jmtgt, Wayne, SuperDave, BobWhite, EAA John, WatkinsNV, Mr and Mrs Strata Rocketeer, Mr and Mrs. MauleManiac, M7Flyer, Mr. and Mrs. DEGJR, lurker Stan.
L to R bottom row: ME!
Dinner was great! Thanks for Doug and Alyce for preparing our fine meal and making the BBQ happen. Thanks to Shortfielder for providing some bratwurst and beer. Thanks to BobWhite for his cheese and olive hors d'oeuvres.
The group area at JC is dusty but an excellent BBQ location.
Late evening BS around the campfired ensued, and I spent the evening dodging cigar smoke and getting to know our many members who flew in from some very distant locations. Shortfielder and Stan from Colorado, the Rocketeers from Arizona, Punkin170b from Salt Lake, and M7Flyer from Los Angeles. I sold the few t-shirts that I brought with me and promised the ladies some babydoll T's next time around.
L to R: watkinsnv, jmtgt, superdave, shortfielder(yawning.)
M7Flyer and Strata Rocketeer discuss what it's like to fly with a broked clavicle.
The next morning it was up at 5:30am Mountain Daylight Time, and in the air by 6:30. N6EA was nice enough to fly me out of JC in his lightly loaded M4 down to the lower elevation Caldwell, where I was traded like human cargo back to jmtgt's M5 for the flight back to Reno.
Overall, a very fun trip and a good stab at a first annual fly-in. Thanks to everyone who attended and generously contributed their time and supplies. Thanks to jmtgt for getting me there safely and thanks to SuperDave for hauling some of my gear home. Thanks for buying some t-shirts to support the site, and most of all, thanks for being enthused about what we do. I can't wait until next year!
-Zane
A somber look back at JC disappearing into the distance, as I dodge the velvety fist smashing thru the headliner of N6EA's Maule.
More photos here:
Events and Fly-ins Gallery
N6EA's gallery
